Leonard P. Howell

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Leonard Percival Howell (born June 16, 1896 in Parish of Clarendon , Jamaica , † 1981 in Kingston , Jamaica) was an important representative of the Rastafarian religion. He was also known by his religious name The Gong or GG Maragh (for Gong Guru). Howell was one of the first important preachers of the Rastafarian movement (along with Joseph Hibbert , Archibald Dunkley and Robert Hinds ). Sometimes he is referred to as The First Rasta ("The First Rasta"). In his opinion, blacks living on the American continent should think about their religious and cultural homeland in Africa. He urged blacks to be proud of themselves and their origins.

According to the biographer Hélène Lee, Howell's family of origin was Anglican . Howell's parents, Thomas and Clementina Howell, were self-employed farmers and encouraged Leonard to travel. In the 1920s he then left Jamaica by ship, traveled to the United States and studied there. His radical stance brought him into conflict with the established authorities in Jamaica: the plantation owners, the trading companies, the established churches, the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the colonial power. In total, he was arrested over 50 times. He founded a commune called "Pinnacle" in Saint Catherine Parish , which became known as the religious site of the Rastafarians.

Today the Leonard P. Howell Foundation keeps his memory and spreads his ideas.

Howell's doctrines

Howell published his ideas and doctrines under the title The Promise Key under the pen name GG Maragh. Since the expectations of the Rastafarian religion contain political demands, his religious and cultural commitment mixed with his work as a civil rights activist. His main demands were:

  • Recognition of Haile Selassies I as the living and only leader of the black people
  • Respect for the dignity of black people
  • Opposition to the suppression
  • God's retribution for the oppressor
  • Replacement of the oppressors and humanization of their institutions
  • Preparing to return to Africa
  • Black people conquered Africa

Howell was imprisoned several times for his claims and beliefs. This increased his reputation in the Rastafarian movement and beyond.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from April 13, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.lphfoundation.org
personal data
SURNAME Howell, Leonard P.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Howell, Leonard Percival (full name); Gong, The; Maragh, GG; Rasta, The First
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Jamaican civil rights activist
DATE OF BIRTH June 16, 1896
PLACE OF BIRTH Parish of Clarendon , Jamaica
DATE OF DEATH 1981
Place of death Kingston , Jamaica